IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,624,746
Granted Patent B2
US 9,624,746 · App. 14/740,399 · Granted Apr 18, 2017

Enhanced hydrocarbon well blowout protection

Inventors: Rudolf H. Hendel (Los Gatos, CA); Catherine G. Lin-Hendel (Los Gatos, CA)
E21B33/035E21B33/064E21B34/06E21B43/0122
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,624,746
App. No.
14/740,399
Granted
Apr 18, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Protection at a hydrocarbon well is enhanced by placing a blowout preventer over a well head. An adapter is connected to the blowout preventer. The adapter includes a valve that when turned off prevents non-production flow from the blowout preventer to a riser pipe.

Claims (39)

1. A well safety system, comprising:

a blowout preventer placed over a well head;

an anchored infrastructure that protects the well head and the blowout preventer; and

a multi-port branched pipe adaptor connected to the blowout preventer, the multi-port branched pipe adaptor including:

a first port adapted for connection to a riser pipe,

a second port adapted for connection to a hydrocarbon collection pipe,

at least one flange, and

a valve;

wherein the multi-port branched pipe adaptor forms a sealed connection between the blowout preventer and the hydrocarbon collection pipe; and

wherein in response to a hydrocarbon surge, the mufti-port branched pipe adaptor is configured to:

prevent hydrocarbon flow to the first port; and

capture hydrocarbon flow to the second port.

2. A well safety system as in claim 1 wherein the anchored infrastructure includes anchoring piers driven into the sea floor, the anchoring piers anchoring the blowout preventer and the well head to the sea floor.

3. A well safety system as in claim 1 wherein the anchored infrastructure includes a pier anchoring disc and an anchoring pier, the anchoring pier being driven through a center hole of the pier anchoring disc into the sea floor.

4. A well safety system as in claim 1 wherein the anchored infrastructure includes a platform above the blowout preventer, the platform being anchored to the sea floor by anchoring piers.

5. A well safety system as in claim 1 wherein the anchored infrastructure includes a containment and protection chamber that covers the blowout preventer and the well head.

6. A well safety system as in claim 5 wherein the containment and protection chamber contains the multi-port branched pipe adaptor.

7. A well safety system as in claim 1 wherein the anchored infrastructure includes a base plate located under the blowout preventer on the sea floor, the well head and the blowout preventer being anchored to the base plate.

8. A well safety system as in claim 7 wherein the anchored infrastructure includes a blowout preventer support framework anchored to the base plate.

9. A system for enhancing well safety, the system comprising:

a well casing pipe equipped with a one-way check valve preventing hydrocarbon up flow into the well casing pipe; and,

a multi-port branched pipe adaptor connected to the well casing pipe, the multi-port branched pipe adaptor includes:

a first port adapted for connection to a blowout preventer and a riser pipe,

a second port adapted for connection to a hydrocarbon collection pipe,

a sensor assembly,

at least one flange, and

an adapter valve;

wherein the multi-port branched pipe adaptor forms a sealed connection between the blowout preventer and the well-casing pipe; and

wherein in response to the sensor assembly detecting a hydrocarbon surge, the multi-port branched pipe adaptor is configured to:

prevent hydrocarbon flow to the first port; and

capture hydrocarbon flow to the second port.

10. A system as in claim 9 , the one-way check valve is a tubal shutter plate check valve.

11. A system as in claim 9 , the one-way check valve is an iris shutter check valve.

12. A system as in claim 9 , the one-way check valve is constructed using a shutter plate.

13. A system as in claim 9 , the one-way check valve is a tubal shutter check valve.

14. A system as in claim 9 , the system additionally includes:

a drill pipe equipped with the one-way check valve preventing hydrocarbon up flow into the drill pipe.

15. A system as in claim 14 , the system additionally includes:

a production pipe equipped with a safety valve, which reduces its opening when detecting a flow above a safety threshold.

Continuity (6)
Continuation 13151669 · Jun 2, 2011
Provisional Application 61350803 · Jun 2, 2010
Provisional Application 61352385 · Jun 7, 2010
Provisional Application 61357519 · Jun 22, 2010
Provisional Application 61362055 · Jul 7, 2010
Related Publication 20150292290A1 · Oct 15, 2015